Parliamentary questions

339. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science whether his Department will commit to full transparency and cooperation with the Freedom of Information (FOI) requests submitted by union representatives regarding the undisclosed MOU (details supplied) [48017/26]

340. Deputy Séamus McGrath asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science in light of recent HSA data showing that 40% of workplace fatalities involve the self-employed, will expand the existing foundational ETB modules funded under the EIST programme to include specific, machine-certified safety modules (such as commercial woodchipper and advanced chainsaw t…

341. Deputy Gillian Toole asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the current status of the application of Louth Meath Education Board for funding to deliver the permanent Dunboyne College of Further Education & Training; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48337/26]

916. Deputy Cian O'Callaghan asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the financial supports available to mature students returning to higher education for a postgraduate degree; to examine the case of a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46904/26]

917. Deputy Niall Collins asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the financial assistance available to a person on a stamp 4 visa (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46968/26]

918. Deputy Jen Cummins asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science his plans for the now vacant site on Cathal Brugha Street; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47135/26]

919. Deputy Roderic O'Gorman asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if he is aware that places on a range of specialist training courses operated by the National Learning Network are capped, due to cuts to City of Dublin Education and Training Board funding; if funding was made available then specialist training places for young adults would open up; …

920. Deputy Roderic O'Gorman asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science for an update on the status of the review of specialist training programmes; when will this review be published; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47158/26]

921. Deputy Ivana Bacik asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the position regarding the signing of new public contracts with a firm (details supplied). [47294/26]

922. Deputy Pádraig O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science whether his Department or the Higher Education Authority holds data on the nationalities of academic teaching staff employed in higher education institutions; if so, the number of such staff by nationality in each of the years 2020 to 2026, in tabular form; and if he will make a sta…

923. Deputy Keira Keogh asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the supports that are available for PhD researchers who wish to avail of funding in the discipline of humanities, who may have previously availed of the Government of Ireland Postgraduate Scholarship Programme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47550/26]

924. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the total landholding of his Department, broken down by county, including the amount currently unused or vacant, the portion zoned for development, and the number of sites that include vacant or derelict properties. [47626/26]

925. Deputy Donna McGettigan asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science to develop national tools to record and monitor commuter students, including numbers, commuting characteristics, intersectional factors and educational outcomes and to build commuter student data collection into existing national data collection tools. [47878/26]

535. Deputy Pádraig Mac Lochlainn asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science whether Ukrainian students under temporary protection will be treated as EU or non-EU students for college places, fees and grants in the 2026/27 academic year; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46476/26]

536. Deputy John Connolly asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the rationale for the recent cancellation of Research Ireland doctoral and postdoctoral scholarship funding for future years; the measures being put in place to support PhD students who had intended to rely on such funding after commencing their studies; whether transitional arrangements…

537. Deputy John Connolly asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the steps being taken to ensure that early-stage researchers are not placed in financially precarious positions as a result of changes to postgraduate funding policy; the extent to which alternative supports or funding streams will be made available (details supplied); and if he will mak…

538. Deputy John Connolly asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science his plans to ensure equitable allocation of research funding across all disciplines, including humanities and social sciences, in view of concerns that recent policy changes may disproportionately favour STEM fields (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4642…

539. Deputy Pádraig Mac Lochlainn asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science whether Ukrainian students who have completed Leaving Certificate or QQI/PLC courses in Ireland will be eligible for SUSI or other supports for third-level study in 2026/27; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46477/26]

540. Deputy Michael Cahill asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science to support a technology conference (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46556/26]

541. Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the first year and full year cost of hiring a full-time teacher for every local authority area to provide Irish classes free of charge to adults based on an academic year starting in September for education and training boards; the annual expenditure specifically on Irish medium high…

542. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if the buildings and lands associated with St. Patrick's Carlow College have been valued; and if so, the estimated value. [46729/26]

236. Deputy George Lawlor asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science given the pace of change in the tech industry, the new or expanded reskilling programmes - particularly in AI, cybersecurity, and advanced digital skills that will be funded to help displaced workers transition quickly into high-demand roles. [46177/26]

237. Deputy Malcolm Byrne asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science to outline Ireland's level of investment in and policy on the use of quantum computing; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46396/26]

238. Deputy Liam Quaide asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science to provide an update on whether prospective PhD students and postdoctoral researchers seeking funding commencing in 2027 will submit applications directly to Research Ireland or through higher education institutions; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46106/26]

239. Deputy Maeve O'Connell asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if his Department has data on the average distance travelled by students to their further or higher educational institution. [46115/26]